K.K. Thanammal*
* Assistant Professor of Histoy, S.T. Hindu College, Nagercoil.
Abstract
Lourthammal Simon is accredited with the special privilege of having become the first women minister emerged from the Mukkuva community. In the 1957 general election to the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu, She contested the election and came out with tremendous success from the Colchel Constituency of Kanyakuamari District. K.Kamaraj, the Chief Minister offered her the Internal Affairs and Fisheries portfolios in his ministry of nine ministers. As a Minister she has done her duty very meritoriously for her people. She implemented new economical schemes for the fishermen community by introducing mechanised powerboats, first time in the District. She also introduced the nylon nets for fishing. In Kanyakumari District, from Irayumanthurai to Vallavillai, the coastal people had enough education and 50 per cent of the people acquired education and high positions in Government only because of Lourthammal. Lourthammal never sought advertisements. She always helped the poor and downtrodden. She extended her helping hand to those who have approached her. She is considered as the first one, to lay the foundation for the Industrialization of the Kaniyakumari District. At present not less than 200 fish net manufacturing companies in this district alone, give employment to thousands of people. She could be a best example for many of the democratic women of the present times. Lourthammal is considered to be the chief symbol of the district. A few colonies established in the name of her in and around Colachel and Nagercoil. And also the newly constructed Manakkudy Bridge must be named after Lourdhammal.
Women in India have been oppressed and discriminated by men. They are seen as the weaker sex. Many say that women are just supposed to stay in the house, keep it clean and take care of the children. Women have been given a second class citizenship in many parts of India. They are still fighting for their rights1. The Constitution of India (1950) brought women on par with the traditionally dominant men. They got equal rights to participate in the political process and to enter high political offices. After Independence, with the removal of socio-legal disabilities and by availing the opportunities in the field of education and employment, empowered women are now acitively participating in politics. Indira Gandhi made a great impact on the Indian Democracy. She was the first woman Prime Minister of India and she rose to be one of the most powerful women in the world. The first woman president Prathiba Patil was elected only after fifty years of Independence. Mamta Banaerjee from West Bengal is also a powerful political leader. In Tamil Nadu the present Chief Minister Jayalalitha made a tremendous achievement in our State. Lourthammal Simon is one among them as the first women Ministerof Tamil Nadu from Kanyakumari District . As politicians and parliamentarians, they have done commendable work in eliminating evils conservation of Indian heritage and the development of the country2.
Lourthammal Simon
Lourthammal never sought advertisements. She always helped the poor and downtrodden. Before assuming office as minister, Lourthammal used to wear luxurious apparels. But after becoming minister she began to wear Khadi sarees only. Maria Lourthammal,can be bard as the lamp of modern democratic society.
Maria Lourthammal was born on September 26th 1911 at Melamanakudy. Her father was Alexander. His father had dry-fish merchandise in Columbo in Srilanka. Srilanka at that time was depending upon Indian goods and services. Those who had gone in trade with Srilanka became rich people and Alexander was one among them. Lourthammal had her education at the St. Joseph’s School, Nagercoil up to the S.S.L.C. After the completion of S.S.L.C. she served as an honorary teacher for a few years3. She married Alexander Simon who belonged to a rich family at Colachel, Kanyakumari District. After the marriage both of them were in Iran for a few years. They were blessed with five sons and they had adopted one girl child of Simons brother.
Member as well as Leader
Mrs. Lourthammal Simon wan an active member of Young Women Christian Association. The Y.M.C.A. of Nagercoil is affiliated to the world Y.M.C.A. through the National Y.M.C.A. of India4. It is the earliest women’s organization in Nagercoil. Louthammal had her role as Secretary of the Y.W.C.A., under her it grew rapidly.
Parents Teachers Association
Lourthammal was an executive member of the Parents Teachers Association in St. Joseph School. As an active member of this association, she had given her time and talents for the betterment of the school and students.
President of Legion of Mary
Moreover, Lourthammal was the President of Legion of Mary which was functioning in her Parish Pastorate. She evinces much interest in tailoring, drawing and other fine arts. Besides, she was very much interested in the improvement of women and children.
Founder of Lions Club
She was an ardent member of the Lions Club at Ramanputhur. Her interest in the social service got expression in her activities in the Lions Club it grew well during her presence.
Kasthuriba Mathar Nala Aluvalaga Sangham
Kasthuriba Mathar Nala Aluvalaga Sangham at Nagercoil was started by Lourthammal Simon. In order to bring up the condition of women in the society and to bring awareness among them for their improvement, Lourthammal collected women in the district to attend this club. The particular place where the club situated had been encroached by the neighbours and yet the particular road is being called Mathar Sangha Salai5. The Mathar Sangham grew well by the seed sown by Lourthammal Simon. All her social activities laid the foundation for the development of the district.
As a Politician
It was at that time; Perunthalaivar Kamaraj was in search of a woman candidate to contest one of the Assembly constituencies in the 1957 general election in Tamil Nadu. Kanyakumari then, was just a new born body, a very precious one, under very hot circumstances, as on 1957, when she had contested the election on a ticket given by the Indian National Congress6. By luck she became the first minister of the newly formed District.
Louthammal Simon was made the Minister for internal affairs and fisheries. They had only eight ministers then, in total, she was one among them. As a minister, she had done very meritoriously for her people. She implemented new economical schemes for the fishermen community by introducing mechanized power boats, for the first time in the district. She also introduced the use of the nylon-net for fishing.
Socially, she had great enthusiasm to organise Women Associations for the cause of poor fishing – folks around the village. She took interest in the works of embroidery, stitching, net-making etc., to help the poor of her fishermen community7.
Lourthammal tried her best to improve the socio economic conditions of the fisher folk. The Mukkuvar sect of the fisher folks had a fine opportunity to be admitted as scheduled tribes. On this score, while Lourthammal was thinking of it to be accomplished, heavy opposition was raised by the same community not to include them be the scheduled tribes. Thus the very thought of Lourthammal has become an abortive attempt. But later the Mukkuvar sect has realized the folly of religuishing the thought rooted out by the minister8.
Lourthammal opened two Panchayat Libraries, one at Eathamozhy junction and another one at Rajakkamangalamthurai. In addition to this, Lourthammal was behind the construction of two bridges at Thoothur and Marthandamthurai resprectively. A number of Primary Health Centres were also built along the coastal region. She has also advised the concerned villages to donate the required area of land as prescribed by the Government. She had built the guest house at Nagercoil, which was the dire need of the time. She also expanded the revenue office buildings.
To prevent soil erosion, she brought about the scheme of planting mangroves. The scheme has gained momentum in the 1970’s. To add more strength to this, coastal plants like pandanasorderatissima, opuntiadillenix prickly pears etc growing abundantly to prevent soil erosion. The plants are being grown also in addition to the natural existence.
She has, in her heart of hearts, accepted Kamaraj as her only leader. Following the principle education to all, introduced by the Chief Minister, Lourthammal encouraged all children of the coastal tract to go to school. The coastal villages from Iraumanthurai to Vallavilai have developed in education 50 per cent of the people were educated because of the untiring efforts taken by Lourdhammal.
At Colachal, Lourdhammal had started a power boat driving school to give training to the aspirants. For the convenience of the trainees, a hostel was also built at Colachel. Lourthammal has introduced Tilapia, a fresh water fish, in the reservoirs and tanks. The poor people have much benefited by harvesting this fish. Tilapia was available in plenty in the Mosambric area of the South East Africa. This was done on the scheme of the Central Government of India with subsidy. Thus the production of Tilapia has gained momentum in Tamil Nadu and its cultural expenditure was totally nill. In the long run, this Tilapia was called Lourthammal Kendai.
Lourthammal had established light houses at Pallam and Puthanthurai. The ever incandescent big lights were functioning throughout night and thus it helped the fisher folks indulged themselves in fishing could very well directions while they were floating on the sea.
In her political life Lourthammal had intimate relationship with the other community people, the dalit leader Vivekanandan of Karcaudu, the Vellala leader Muthukaruppa Pillay of Kottar, Mr. S.D. Paul Nadar of Agasteeswaram were a few leaders with whom she had direct contact. Furthermore, she had got the deomocratic spirit from the congress leaders, particularly the ministers like, Subramaniam, Bakthavatsalam, Kakkan and Venkatraman9.
At the age of about ninety years, living in Chennai Mrs. Maria Lourthammal Simon, broken away from the old system of Aryan influence had been, able to establish a Dravidian Democratic system and had remained a good example to the present young women of the country. With a foresight of the future growth of fisher-folks Tamil Nadu, a good deal of service was extended to them. Lourdhammal such as the introduction of mechanized boats and improved type of fish nets. While Kamaraj was the first Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Lourthammal achieved many significant things for the development of the community.
Of course Lourthammal Simon is considered to be the chief symbol of the coastal community of Tamil Nadu. A few colonies were established in the name of Simon in and around Colachel and Nagercoil. Save the names of such colonies, the present younger generation doesn’t know anything about Lourdhammal Simon.
She was instrumental for the growth of the Tuticorin and Rameswaram fisher- folks. The fishermen of Royapuram held a felicitation ceremony, in appreciation of her service to the community. In fine, her ministerial period was nothing but a golden period to the fisher folks of Tamil Nadu.
She was the first women minister from Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu. At the Centenary Celebration Colachel Women, MLA Vijaya Dharani has insisted that the newly constructed Manakkudy Bridge must be named after Lourdhammal as the Model of Women’s leadership and capacity.
References
1 Jain, Devaki, India Women, India: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, 1975, p.35.
2 Vishwanatha Mythili, Women and Society, Vol.I, Jaipur, 1994, pp.40-42.
3 Tamil Selvan, Justin Diwakar, Jawaharji, Meenava Munnodi Lourthammal Simon (T), 2010, p.39.
4 Y.M.C.A., Souvenir, 1968, p-5.
5 Personal interview with Mrs. Sarojini Devi, former Head of Mahalir Sangham, Nagercoil.
6 Dr. Immanuel, Kanyakumari Aspects and Achitects, Nagercoil, 2007, p.201.
7 R. Rathika and A. Tresa Josephin Rani, Women’s Potential, Chennai, 2012, p.43.
8 Vasantha Kumar, The Anatomy of a Riot, Aside, June 1982, p.35.
9 Vareethiah Konstantine, Kanyakumari Coast : Fishery and Fish Workers, 2008, p.82.